Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, known as Lorde, was born on November 7, 1996, in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. She gained initial recognition at age 12 after winning a school talent show, leading to a development deal with Universal Music Group in 2009. In 2011, she began collaborating with producer Joel Little, releasing the EP The Love Club in 2012, followed by her debut album Pure Heroine in 2013, featuring the hit single 'Royals,' which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammy Awards in 2014. Lorde's subsequent albums include Melodrama (2017), nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, Solar Power (2021), and Virgin (2025). Her music blends electropop with introspective lyrics exploring adolescence, identity, and relationships. She curated the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Lorde performs original songs and covers in intimate settings, as seen in early shows at Auckland venues like the Victoria Theatre.